Test cricket in Australia

It seems to me that outside of Sydney and Melbourne (and maybe Adelaide), test cricket in Australia is dying. Consistently poor test crowds have plagued Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart for several years now, whilst their Big Bash games are usually sellouts. The message from the public is clear- Money is tight, and we'd rather spend what money we have on the Big Bash games, rather than the test.

The worrying thing is that Cricket Australia don't seem to care. Prices for tickets are still sky high, and pitches are boring and flat.

What's the solution?

reduce ticket prices. i used to go to every day of any test happening in whichever city i was closest to. but when you have to fork out $100 for a decent seat it becomes prohibitive. for a family even one day is too costly

but its not gonna happen cos all james ****** sutherland cares bout is tv money and cosying up to the bcci

The TV money will dry up eventually if the pitches are roads and the stadiums are empty- Doesn't make it a very marketable product.

Charging excessively for tickets when the stadiums aren;t even half-full is just plain greed and arrogance.

What are the TV ratings like - seems that that's the determinant of whether Test cricket is dying.

But the point is correct - suck it up and lower ticket prices. CA will say they are set by the grounds but there is no reason why CA can't subsidise them.

Ayenein control all. Tests in ealy November is ludicrous. Towdr of BBL has screwed up the summer fixture.

The flat tracks served up this year suggest CA interference simil
to the MCC

JGK wrote:What are the TV ratings like - seems that that's the determinant of whether Test cricket is dying.

But the point is correct - suck it up and lower ticket prices.  CA will say they are set by the grounds but there is no reason why CA can't subsidise them.

The grounds are subsidised by the AFL. May as well have 30,000 people paying $20 each than 10,000 people paying $60 each, and they'll make more money from food and beverages.

Henry wrote:

JGK wrote:What are the TV ratings like - seems that that's the determinant of whether Test cricket is dying.

But the point is correct - suck it up and lower ticket prices.  CA will say they are set by the grounds but there is no reason why CA can't subsidise them.

The grounds are subsidised by the AFL. May as well have 30,000 people paying $20 each than 10,000 people paying $60 each, and they'll make more money from food and beverages.

totally agree.

I'd love to know if the early starts are affecting the Gabba and Waca pitches?

Bradman wrote:I'd love to know if the early starts are affecting the Gabba and Waca pitches?

Perth maybe but I dunno about Brisbane, seeing as it's hosted the first test of the Summer in November for as long as I can remember.

horace wrote:Ayenein control all. Tests in ealy November is ludicrous. Towdr of BBL has screwed up  the summer fixture.

The flat tracks  served  up this year suggest  CA interference simil
to the MCC

Are you posting from a phone? Or have your powers of spelling deserted you?

[quote="taipan"]

horace wrote:Ayenein control all. Tests in ealy November is ludicrous. Towdr of BBL has screwed up  the summer fixture.

The flat tracks  served  up this year suggest  CA interference simil
to the MCC

Are you posting from a phone? Or have your powers of spelling deserted you?[/qu



Phome

Taips did well to notice the difference.

To quote Zimmy, I hate you guys.

JGK wrote:Taips did well to notice the difference.

ET phome home.

At my age I need a microscope to read the phone

horace wrote:At my age I need a  microscope to read  the  phone

Skully has discommunicated you.

Skully has not been the same since the MM got defrocked.

Nothing much has changed in a year then?

This year the pitches have been a little spicier and the opposition better, and now the fair-weather Aussie fans aren't coming because their team is shit.

Tassie crowd of 8000 on day 1 (in unbelievably shitty weather) and 6000 on day 3 were about as good as expected.

WA crowd was a bit disappointing but not far below expectations.

The day night crowd in Adelaide should be good - much better than last year - especially now that Trev has suggested otherwise.

Attendance was about 17000 for the two & half days of actual play in Hobart. Not bad considering the main attendance day (Sunday) was totally lost.

Big Dog wrote:Attendance was about 17000 for the two & half days of actual play in Hobart. Not bad considering the main attendance day (Sunday) was totally lost.

MONA did a roaring trade on the Sunday though!

absolutely ... awaiting your final report on that

Did horrie make the trip or not?

No